ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate levels of lipoprotein(a) as a marker of family history of cardiovascular risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have studied 673 six-year old children. Lipoprotein(a) was determined and previous family history of cardiovascular risk (hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease under 55 years) was collected. RESULTS: Of the children studied, 7.42% had positive antecedents of cardiovascular risk in the parents, 51.8% in grandparents and 9.21% in parents and grandparents. The lipoprotein(a) levels were higher in these groups than in those without any family history of cardiovascular risk. Likewise, the percentage of children with lipoprotein(a) levels higher than 30 mg/dl was 15.69% in the group without a family history of problems and 25.8% and 25.69%, in the group with hypercholesterolemia antecedents and cardiovascular disease, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value test did not prove that a positive family history could be used to detect the majority of children with lipoprotein higher than 30 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS: Lipoprotein(a) levels in children are higher in those with a family history of cardiovascular disease or hypercholesterolemia, but these antecedents cannot be used as a determinant factor to detect the majority of children with lipoprotein(a) higher than 30 mg/dl.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics , Hypercholesterolemia/blood , Lipoprotein(a)/blood , Lipoprotein(a)/genetics , Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis , Catchment Area, Health , Child , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Hypercholesterolemia/diagnosis , Male , Risk Factors , Sensitivity and Specificity , SpainABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the levels of lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) as a marker of familiar history of cardiovascular risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have studied 176 children and adolescents between the ages of 3 and 18 years with hypercholesterolemia. In these children we determined Lp(a) levels and collected the family history concerning cardiovascular risk factors (hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease under 55 years of age). RESULTS: Of the cases studied, 67.04% had a family history of cardiovascular risk. In this group, levels of Lp(a) were significantly higher than in the group without a family history of cardiovascular risk. Lp(a) levels higher than 30 mg/dl were found in 3.44% of the patients without a family history of cardiovascular risk in contrast to 28,43% and 37.5% of the cases with familiar history of hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of lipoprotein (a) in children and adolescents with hypercholesterolemia are a marker of family history of cardiovascular disease and hypercholesterolemia.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/blood , Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II/blood , Lipoprotein(a)/blood , Adolescent , Biomarkers/blood , Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics , Child , Child, Preschool , Cholesterol/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in children from Madrid. METHODS: We studied 2224 boys and girls, ages 2-18 years, attending five different school centers. They were divided into three socioeconomic groups: low class, middle-low class and middle high class, in regard to their parent's occupation and educational attainment. The evaluation included a blood analysis of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (CT), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA), apolipoprotein B100 (Apo B), and the Apo A/Apo B and LDL/HDL ratios. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between socioeconomic status and total cholesterol, Apo A, Apo B and Apo A/Apo B, whereas socioeconomic status and triglycerides were inversely related. The LDL/HDL ratio varied according to age. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike some previously published studies, we found that children belonging to high socioeconomic status have a more atherogenic lipid profile than those of middle low or low socioeconomic levels.
